Teens and Online Safety How to Protect Yourself in Cyberspace

Introduction 1. Being Aware of Your Digital Footprint 2. Smartphone Settings and Your Identifying Information 3. Protecting Your Privacy to Prevent and Mitigate Cybersecurity Attacks 4. Becoming Resilient to Cyberbullying and Trolling 5. Protecting Yourself from Cyberstalking and Doxing 6. Protecting Yourself from Sextortion and Image-Based Abuse 7. Recognising and Responding to Catfishing and Online Grooming 8. How to Recognise and Respond to Hate Speech and Radicalised 9. How to Avoid Fake News and Online Misinformation 10. The Risks of Online Gaming 11. Screen Time, AI, and Mental Health 12. Using Social Media and Online Relationships. Conclusion

Biography

Julie Maclean is a researcher and consultant with over 25 years of experience with strategic technology and psychological research. She holds a Doctorate in Technology. Her research includes the dynamics of online communication and how online behaviours can lead to psychological risks and online threats.

Yeslam Al-Saggaf is a nationally recognised expert in cyber security. He is a Professor in Computing at Charles Sturt University where he has been an academic since 2003. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) in Computer and Information Engineering from Malaysia and a Master of Information Technology and a Ph.D. from Charles Sturt University.

“This book is set within a period of major change in how people interact with the digital world. Each chapter presents familiar situations and themes that show how social norms are continually questioned and reshaped. Behaviours seen in everyday life, both positive and negative, are clearly mirrored in online spaces. The authors identify key trends and draw on relevant psychological concepts and theories to help explain the challenges facing society and communities, particularly teenagers and those who support them. The book combines analysis with a call to action.”

-Kath Herbert (PhD), Sub-Dean (Learning and Teaching), Charles Sturt University

“It’s a very interesting read. Indeed, I learnt a lot and have adjusted some of my phone settings,”

-Mark Filmer, Author of Three Steel Teeth: Wide Comb Shears and Woolshed Wars

“I think the most important thing to help teens with online safety is education. Telling them be careful or banning them from doing things online doesn't equip them for the future. I like how the book shows you situations that feel familiar, which made it easier to understand. It made me think differently about what's really going on with people's intentions, how things can easily get out of control and how I respond. It could also help adults to understand how to support us better.”

-15-year-old High School Student